Presentation Examines Ogden’s Gang Injunction

OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University’s American Democracy Project will host “Constitutional Rights in the Balance: Ogden’s Gang Injunction,” March 2 at 10:30 a.m. in the Shepherd Union Ballroom A.

The presentation will feature Darcy M Goddard, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah and David C Reymann, cooperating attorney from the law firm Parr Brown Gee and Loveless. Both have argued against a controversial gang injunction.

In September 2010, 2nd District Judge Ernie Jones issued an injunction against the Ogden Trece gang, limiting the amount of contact members could have with one another, imposing a curfew on members, as well as other restrictions.

The ACLU filed a petition with the Utah Supreme Court shortly thereafter, seeking review of the injunction. The Weber County attorney argued that the gang is a public nuisance responsible for violent crime. Defense attorneys said the measure is too broad and infringes on civil rights.

In November, the Utah Supreme Court declined to suspend the injunction, the first of its kind in Utah. Attorneys opposed to the injunction, including Goddard and Reymann, plan to continue their fight in the courts. Following the presentation the ACLU will show its "Know Your Rights" video.

The presentation is sponsored by the ACLU and WSU’s American Democracy Project, Center for Diversity and Unity, and Convocations Lecture Series.